A total of thirty seven students will be competing during the Sixth Annual DeKalb County Spelling Bee Friday night, February 20th at 6:30 p.m. at DeKalb County High School.
WJLE plans LIVE coverage
Students from DeKalb Middle School, DeKalb West School, and Northside Elementary School recently competed at the school level to become eligible for the county competition.
Along with students from twenty nine other counties, the first and second place winners in the DeKalb County Spelling Bee will compete in the Tennessean Regional Spelling Bee on March 4th at Belmont University in Nashville.
The winner of the Regional Spelling Bee will compete in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. May 26th through May 28th with all expenses paid by the Tennessean Newspaper.
The purpose of the County Wide Spelling Bee is to help students improve spelling skills, increase vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives.
Participants in this year’s County Wide Spelling Bee are:
Northside Elementary School:
Fourth Grade- Sara LeFever and Baylee Phillips
Fifth Grade-Chase Bryant, Hailey Cannon, Caleb Fox, Morgan Cross, Kaitlin Rhea, and Kyra Trapp
DeKalb Middle School:
Sixth Grade- Peter Antoniak, Amber Baute, Brandon Chapman, Haley Davis, Lenzi Dickens, Justin Johnson, Julie Little, Makalee Ruch, Makayla Starnes, Alex Thompson, and Jacob Washer.
Eighth Grade-Jessica Acuna, Kyra Dickens, and Martelia Tallent
DeKalb West School:
Fifth Grade- Morgan Vickers and Hailey Walker
Sixth Grade- Leah Burchfield, McKenzie Gann, and Bruce Wilson
Seventh Grade- Cara Mosely, McKenzie Poteete, Crystal Vickers, Evan Ward, and Dylan Young
Eighth Grade- Nathan Gohs, Amy Hastings, Taylor Leach, Justin Manley, and Austin Miller

The DeKalb County School System has announced that three educators, Kathy Lawrence, Carrie Gottlied and Linda Paris have been selected “Teachers of the Year” locally and will compete for regional honors in the Tennessee Teacher of the Year Program.
Dr. Carol Hendrix, Supervisor of Instruction for grades 7-12, made the announcement during Thursday night’s school board meeting. “Again this year, we’re going to participate in the Teacher of the Year process, which begins on the school level, moves to the system level, the regional level, and finally to the state level. As we did last year, we had an individual from out of the county to select the Teachers of the Year at the system wide level.”
“In pre-kindergarten through fourth grade, we have Karen Knowles from Smithville Elementary, Crystal Young from Smithville Elementary, Kathy Lawrence from DeKalb West School, and Kathy Bryant from Northside Elementary School. Kathy Lawrence was chosen on the system wide level and will go on to the regional level.”
“In grades 5 through 8, Carrie Gottlied from Northside Elementary, Pat Allen from DeKalb West School, Pat Barnes from DeKalb Middle School, and Vicky Terrell from DeKalb Middle School were chosen and Carrie Gottlied will be going on to the regional level.”
“In the 9th through 12th grade, which is DeKalb County High School, we have two teachers, Leslie Rice and Linda Paris and Linda Paris was chosen to go on to the regional competition which will be February 27th. Should they win there, they will go on to the state level in March. Last year we had a teacher who was Teacher of the Year at the regional level, Lisa Cripps. She did go to the state and did very well there.”
The Tennessee Teacher of the Year Program is designed to promote recognition, respect and appreciation for teachers; to stimulate interest in teaching as a career; and to encourage public involvement in education.
This program is sponsored annually by the Tennessee Department of Education and the Niswonger Foundation.
The Tennessee Teacher of the Year represents Tennessee at the National Teacher of the Year competition, which is sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers and Scholastic, Inc.
Teachers of the Year are selected competitively through five cycles: Building, System, Field Service Center Region, Grand Division and State; and from three categories (levels of teaching); Grades Pre K-4, 5-8, 9-12.
Teachers selected at each cycle receive local recognition and awards underwritten by local sources. State recognition/awards include a banquet honoring the nine State Teacher of the Year finalists and certificates of appreciation from the Governor. In addition, the State Finalists and the State Teacher of the Year receive cash awards from the Niswonger Foundation.
Meanwhile, the local school system has been approved for a $6,000 Model Dropout Prevention Program grant.
The announcement was made by Dr. Danielle Collins, Federal Programs Supervisor, during Thursday night’s school board meeting.
Under the program the school system plans to initiate a Family Math Night for parents and students who attend the fourth grade at Northside Elementary School. Officials say they are concerned about consistently low math scores in fourth grade and the probable history of these students’ parents who dropped out of school. A Math Night for parents and students would provide an opportunity for parents and students to learn grade appropriate math skills together in an effort to promote positive learning and parental involvement. First Bank will partner with the school system in offering this program. Skills such as addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication in conjunction with balancing a checkbook will be taught to parents and students. Other standards such as percentages, place value, and ratios will be covered in real world scenarios.
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby presented his monthly update on personnel.
Those employed for the 2008-09 school year since last month include Charles Rodgers, a teacher at DeKalb County High School and Charles L. Cantrell, a substitute custodian.
Matthew Carpenter, Sara Jared, and Jalene Vanatta have been named substitute teachers.
Elizabeth Redmon has been transferred to DeKalb West School as an educational assistant and Tena Edwards has been transferred from Federal educational assistant to General Purpose..
Wendy Bowling, a Smithville Elementary School Educational Assistant has been granted a leave; Kitty Thomas, teacher at DeKalb Middle School; Truitt Hale, custodian at DeKalb Middle School, Sabrina Kirksey, teacher at Northside Elementary; and Mary Joines, a bus assistant have all been granted a leave of absence as requested.
Alisha Cheatham, part-time speech pathologist has resigned.
In other action, the board voted to ask permission from the county commission to bid three new school buses for delivery in August 2009 including one 72 passenger and two 78 passenger buses to be funded in the 2009-2010 general purpose school budget. Plans are to have the buses seat belt ready along with installation of a three way camera system for better viewing of students in the front, middle, and back of the buses.
Brad Leach, CTE Director requested the board to approve programs of study for career and technical education. The state is requiring that all career and technical education programs have a program of study in place for the 2009-2010 school year. Under the program, students in career and technical education must choose a career cluster and complete at least three course offerings (credits) in a program of study. For example, if a student chooses the career cluster- Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics, he or she must complete three of the following course offerings in the Automotive Technology program of study: Transportation Core, Brake Systems, Steering and Suspension, and Engine Performance.
Leach says students will declare a program of study during the eighth grade registration for high school and begin by taking the introductory course in their freshman year. “All eighth graders coming in will have to declare some type of program of study. The one thing about putting this in the freshman academy again is that a 10th, 11th or 12th grader who is wanting to take an introductory course will not be mixed in with those freshmen. The freshmen will be by themselves in this introductory course. If a student wants to take an introductory course, we will have to create a class for them. We’ll probably have to do this the first year to pick up the 10th graders that are in the freshman academy now. We do have some dual credit/post secondary college offerings for students. Hopefully, by this fall every program of study will have some type of post secondary/articulation or dual credit agreements that students will be able to use their credits in high school in order to go onto college and it will satisfy some of those requirements for college credit.”
The board granted Leach’s request.
Dr. Bill Tanner, Principal at Smithville Elementary School, updated the board on the new computer lab at the school. “At the elementary school our computer lab is used daily on the fast forward reading program and also with intervention programs with our children who are not reaching the levels they need to reach in reading. Our computers had gotten to the point where they couldn’t be fixed anymore so I talked to Brad Mullinax (Technology Coordinator) and Mr. (Mark) Willoughby (Director of Schools) and we decided we would replace the towers. It was going to cost around $30,000 to replace everything so we decided we would go ahead and replace the towers. I talked to the PTO people and they agreed to replace the monitors with flat screen monitors. We also got some new headphones. So I’d like to thank the school board, Mr. Willoughby, and the PTO. We have a new computer lab at the elementary school and I’d like to invite each and everyone of you to come and visit it and see our new computer lab.”
In routines business, the board granted approval for an overnight trip for members of the Health Occupations Students of America Club to attend a state conference in Chattanooga March 23rd through 25th .
An overnight trip request was approved for the DCHS boys soccer team to attend an invitational soccer tournament at Franklin County High School in Winchester on Saturday, March 21st through Sunday, March 22nd.
The DCHS boys soccer team was granted permission to play a soccer match at Jackson County during school hours on Monday, March 30th. Permission was also granted for an in school match to be played at home on Tuesday, March 24th with Jackson County.
The board approved a request for members of the FCCLA club to attend a state leadership meeting April 7th-9th at the Opryland Hotel.
Members of the FFA were granted permission to attend the state convention in Gatlinburg March 29th through April 2nd.
The board granted permission for a fundraiser at DeKalb Middle School. All proceeds from the candy sale February 23rd through March 27th will be for the general account.
The board also authorized a trip for board members to attend the “Day on the Hill” Legislative Conference February 24th.
The school board meeting next month will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10th instead of Thursday, March 12th.

According to the U.S. Travel Industry Association, tourism spending in DeKalb County is continuing to grow at a good pace. The most current data report (2007) shows travel-related expenditures brought $34,360,000 to DeKalb County, which is a 7.3% increase from the previous year.
DeKalb County Tourism Fast Facts:
• In the 14-county Upper Cumberland region, DeKalb County received the third highest amount of tourism dollars & was first in increased percent change (7.3% increase).
• Tourism activity in DeKalb County produced $7.17 million in worker income/paychecks (a 7.6% increase from the previous year), $4.46 million in local county tax revenues (7.3% increase), $1.92 million in state tax revenue (6.7% increase), & 270 jobs (2.8% increase).
• Tourists spending in the county created $12,219 daily in local county tax revenues, $5,260 daily in state tax revenues, and $19,644 daily in worker paychecks.
• On an average day in DeKalb County, visitors spend over $94,000.
• The tax relief per household in DeKalb County due to tourism dollars is $913.52.
Sources: TN Dept. of Tourism, U.S. Travel Industry Assoc. & the University of Tennessee’s Tourism Institute
Thanks to everyone who attended the Chamber Annual Membership Banquet. We had over 200 in attendance. Our appreciation goes to the 2009 Leadership DeKalb Class for serving the food, Dan & Layna McCorkle for sharing their musical talents, and Boy Scout Troop #347 for the flag presentation. We are so grateful for our corporate, silent auction, and door prize sponsors who make our banquet possible. We appreciate FirstBank for sponsoring our incredible keynote speaker, Micheal Burt & express our deepest gratitude to our Corporate Sponsors — Center Hill Realty, DTC Communications / DTC Wireless, DeKalb Community Bank, Liberty State Bank, Middle Tennessee Natural Gas, & Tenneco. Congratulations to Charlie Parker for receiving the Leadership Alumni’s “Community Leader of the Year” Award & to Ben Chapman of Lighthouse Christian Camp for being presented with the “Legacy Award.”
This year’s Leadership DeKalb class, Leadership Director Jen Sherwood, and I will be traveling overnight to Nashville for an in-depth and practical hands-on experience at the Capitol during the State Government session in March. Our many thanks go out to Middle Tennessee Natural Gas and The Inn at Evins Mill for sponsoring February’s Economic and Community Development Session.
One of the top priorities of the Chamber is to help promote local events. Help us keep our 2009 Community Calendar of Events up-to-date. Please email us at dekalbtn@dtccom.net or call 597-4163 to let us know of any events, programs, or opportunities you have coming this year.
Mark Your Calendars for all the great upcoming opportunities:
• WJLE Chamber Radio Program – 1st Wednesday of every month at 8:30 AM
• Feb 19th – Justin Potter Library’s “Teen Writers’ Program” (teen 13-18) at 3:30 PM
• Feb 20th – Cub Scouts Pack 347’s second annual “Friday Nite Open” – Pinewood Derby race open to the community: cub scouts, former cub scouts, family members, etc. Weigh-in begins at 5:30 p.m. Race will begin at 7 p.m. Location – First United Methodist Fellowship Building. Entry fee – $5. For more information contact Jen Sherwood at 597-4851 or Richard Judkins at 597-4213
• Feb 21st – The 2nd Annual Father/Daughter Date Night sponsored by the DCHS Football Cheerleaders from 6:30 to 9:30 PM at Smithville Church of God – Tickets: $25 includes dinner, dance, & photo. For more info or to purchase tickets, call Judith Hale at 464-7810 or Vanessa Winchester at 615-948-9543
• Feb 24th – DeKalb County “Spay Day” – For appt. or more info, call 464-1196 or 464-6104
• Feb 28th – Justin Potter Library’s Story hour (for children 3-10) at 10:00 AM with FCCLA Club and author Barbara Ebel, MD. Doctor Barbara will read her non-fiction children’s book about Chester, the therapy dog, who will be at her side. Activities and book signing to follow.
• March 4th – Re-Opening of Stella Luna Art Gallery
• DeKalb Community’s Bank’s Financial Solutions Education Series – FREE & open to the public
o February 23 – Budgeting Solutions
o March 2 – Saving Solutions
o March 9 – Credit Use & Fraud Solutions
o March 16 – Investing Solutions
o March 23 – Smart Spending Solutions
o Times: 6:30 to 7:30 PM at their Smithville office
o To register or for more info, call April Martin at 597-4945.
• The Appalachian Center for Craft is taking registrations for all of their 2009 Workshop Sessions – For more info, go to: http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/wkshops.html or stop by the Chamber for a Workshop Catalog.
Join our efforts in working together to promote our great county and its businesses. For a membership application or community improvement nomination form, call the Chamber at 597-4163 or visit us at 301 North Public Square, Smithville.

The Smithville Police Department will be conducting sobriety checkpoints and enhanced traffic enforcement on Friday in an ongoing effort to provide safer roadways for the public. The Smithville Police Department will continue to work with the Governors Highway Safety Office in an effort to keep our roadways safe.
The Governor’s Highway Safety Office is Tennessee’s advocate for highway safety. This office works with law enforcement, judicial personnel, and community advocates to coordinate activities and initiatives relating to the human behavorial aspects of highway safety.
The GHSO’s mission is to develop, execute, and evaluate programs to reduce the number of fatalities, injuries, and related economic losses resulting from traffic crashes on Tennessee’s roadways. The office works in tandem with the National Highway Safety Administration to implement programs focusing on occupant protection, impaired driving, speed enforcement, truck and school bus safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety and crash data collection and analysis. Programs administered by the Governor’s Highway Safety Office are 100% federally funded.

Donny Green, County Executive Director for DeKalb County Farm Service Agency alerts producers that sign-up ends February 27, 2009, for the Crop Disaster Program (CDP), which provides payments for 2005, 2006, or 2007 crop-year losses due to a natural disaster.
“DeKalb County Farm Service Agency has issued over $750,000 for 2005-2007 crop losses in DeKalb County,” said Green. “We encourage qualified farmers to take advantage of this assistance.”
Crop producers who did not have crop insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program coverage during the year of the disaster are not eligible for compensation.
The ending date of February 27 applies to the receipt of a signed and completed FSA-840 application along with supporting documentation and required forms available at your county FSA office. No late filed applications will be approved.
More information on CDP and other USDA disaster assistance programs is available at the DeKalb County Farm Service Agency (FSA) office by calling 597-8225, extension 2, or visiting the office at 647 Bright Hill Road in Smithville. Information can also be found on FSA’s Web site at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

Children found living in unsanitary conditions at two separate homes has resulted in child neglect charges against three people.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 34 year old Michael Eugene Evans is charged with two counts of child neglect. Bond for him is set at $15,000 and he will be in court February 19th.
According to Sheriff Ray, deputies responded to a residence on Colvert Lake Road Thursday to do a welfare check on children living at the residence. There, officers found Evans passed out on a couch leaving two children unattended. Upon entering the home, deputies found the children, a 10 year old and a 9 month old, living amidst dog feces. Cockroaches could be seen throughout the residence including the baby’s play pen. Strong fumes from a kerosene heater were also detected in the home. Deputies contacted authorities at Children Services who investigated and found the baby’s bottom to be red and raw because the child’s diaper had not been changed regularly.
The next day, Friday, 43 year old Steven Scott Wheeler and 37 year old Kimberly Diane Wheeler were charged with two counts of child neglect after deputies responded to a call on The Loop Road in Smithville
According to the complaint, an intoxicated man was trying to administer medication to children.
Upon arrival, officers found Steven Scott Wheeler passed out on the couch. They also found four small children in the home. In a bedroom where a four year old and a five year old were staying, officers found a full beer that was open and a pill bottle of Xanax. In addition, a bag of marijuana was recovered from a child’s bedroom closet.
According to Sheriff Ray, the home was unsanitary with cigarette butts on the floor and trash thrown all over the residence. While there, deputies interviewed Kimberly Diane Wheeler who also lives at the residence. She allegedly admitted that the home was unsanitary.
In addition to the child neglect charges, Steven Scott Wheeler was also charged with simple possession. Bond for Kimberly Diane Wheeler was set at $10,000 and $11,500 for Steven Scott Wheeler. Both will appear in court on February 19th.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has apparently solved a December 2nd robbery at the Sonic Drive-In with the arrest of a 42 year old Smithville man.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says Eddie Leroy Taylor of A.B. Frazier Road is charged with aggravated robbery.
According to detectives, Taylor who was dressed in camouflage and wearing a mask, attacked a 17 year old car hop who was serving a customer. Taylor allegedly grabbed the employee’s money belt and threw the car hop to the ground. Taylor then dragged the employee across the concrete parking lot until the money belt broke lose causing bodily injury to the car hop. Taylor then fled with the money belt which contained approximately $75 in cash.
In addition to the aggravated robbery, Sheriff Ray says Taylor is also charged in two other recent theft cases.
According to detectives, Taylor took a drill belonging to a work crew doing electrical work on the First Baptist Church building on Church Street in Smithville. The drill has not been recovered.
Meanwhile, Taylor and another man, 37 year old Craig Anthony Hill of Holmes Creek Road, Smithville, have been charged with burglary and theft of property over $1,000..
Sheriff Ray says detectives charged Taylor and Hill after an investigation into a break in on Floyd Drive in Smithville where over $2,800 worth of power tools were stolen. The two men allegedly cut a pad lock off of a utility trailer to gain access. Hill allegedly pawned some of the tools in McMinnville. Many of them have been recovered.
Bond for Hill was set at $125,000. Taylor’s total bond is $240,000. Both will appear in court on February 12th.
Meanwhile, deputies arrested 35 year old Jimmy B. Martin of Hurricane Ridge Road, Smithville last Wednesday for a 3rd offense of driving under the influence. Deputies spotted Martin’s vehicle on Highway 70 East and observed him swerving from the yellow line to the white line. After stopping the vehicle, officers noticed that Martin had slurred speech and he was unsteady on his feet. Martin also failed field sobriety tasks. Martin has two other DUI convictions in DeKalb County. His bond was set at $4,500 and he will appear in court on February 12th.
37 year old Mary June Wright of Keltonburg Road, Smithville turned herself in at the DeKalb County Jail Thursday to serve 10 days as ordered by the courts. Upon searching Wright, a female correctional officer found that she had a package that was wrapped in cellophane containing tobacco, a lighter, 5 pills believed to be Hydocodone, 15 Klonopin pills, and numerous particles and powder believed to be Klonopin. Wright was charged with introduction of drugs into a penal institution. Wright’s bond was set at $7,500 and her court date is February 26th.
On Friday, 42 year old Fowler Stoney Ramsey of Rolling Acres Road, Smithville was charged with theft of property under $500. Detectives say Ramsey stole a leaf blower at a residence on Rolling Acres Road in Smithville on January 23rd. The leaf blower has since been recovered. Ramsey’s bond was set at $5,000 and he will appear in court on March 19th.
On Saturday, deputies responded to a domestic call at a business on Highway 53 in Alexandria. Through an investigation, officers learned that 23 year old Ronald L. Haller of Hickory Hill Lane, Hermitage had assaulted a female after they had run out of gas on Nashville Highway. Deputies say Haller pulled the female out of the vehicle by her legs and beat her head against the top of the vehicle. Officers saw signs of the assault on the victim’s legs and elbows. They also detected a strong odor of alcohol on Haller’s person and he had red watery eyes.
Haller was charged with domestic assault and public intoxication. His bond was set at $4,500 and he will appear in court on February 26th.
Two other people who were with Haller and the female, 19 year old Richard A. Ellithorpe and 20 year old Jaquice E. Carr both of Sports Road, Mt Juliet were charged with under age consumption after deputies detected an odor of alcohol on their persons. Bond for both was set at $1,000 each and they will appear in court on February 26th.

The Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County, Inc. has announced its new officers for the 2009-2010 year.
Tom Janney is the new president. Sharon Evans, vice president; Lisa Garrison, secretary; and Glenda Davis, treasurer.
Meanwhile, new members of the local Board of Directors of Habitat are Adela McGeehin, Michael Carpenter, Lisa Garrison, Hearon Puckett, Kim Wheeler and Larry Green.
Retiring after serving six years on the Board of Directors are Marie Blair, Nolan Turner, Nancy Lewis and Gary Johnson. Other retiring directors are Jason Lohorn and Steve Osment.
Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical Christian housing ministry, providing families in need with the opportunity for affordable home ownership.
Volunteers and donors assist in building the homes and Habitat for Humanity sells the homes to the Partner Families at cost with no-interest mortgages.

To prevent more than 6 million U.S. households from having their television service cut off on February 17th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation today to extend the nationwide digital television (DTV) transition to June 12, 2009.
“Without this extension, close to 40,000 Tennessee households would not been able to watch TV after February 17th,” said Congressman Bart Gordon. “While most people won’t be affected by the DTV transition, the 115-day extension will give people who have rabbit ears on their TV sets time to get converter coupons and purchase equipment they need to ensure their TV continues to work.”
Television stations were scheduled stop broadcasting analog signals and exclusively broadcast in digital on February 17, 2009. After that date, analog televisions that rely on antennas would have gone black unless they were connected to a digital-to-analog converter box.
“It is important for everyone to figure out if they are going to be affected by the transition,” said Gordon. “If you have already made the transition, this delay will not affect you at all. Also, if you have a digital television or a television connected to cable, satellite, or other pay TV service, you do not need to do anything.”
For viewers who are using an antenna and have an analog TV they purchased before 2004, you will need a digital-to-analog converter box to continue to watch broadcast television on that set after June 12th. If you have not gotten a converter box yet or applied for a converter box coupon, call 1-888-388-2009 or go online to www.dtv2009.gov.
Currently, there is a waiting list of over 3 million households nationwide for converter box coupons from the federal government, which includes 39,593 Tennessee households according to the Department of Commerce. In addition, there is converter box shortage of at least 2 million units. For these reasons, the transition deadline was extended to June 12th.
For people who are on the waiting list, you should receive a coupon soon. The Economic Recovery bill currently being debated includes provisions that will increase the number of coupons the federal government is able to give to consumers. Converter boxes cost $40-70, and the government is offering two $40 coupons per household to purchase boxes.
The House-passed bill, which the Senate approved last week, now goes to the President, who is expected to sign it into law. For more information about the DTV transition, go to www.bart.house.gov/dtv.

DeKalb County High School has released the names of this year’s Honor Students including the 2009 Valedictorian Kesha Staley and the Salutatorian Kelly Merriman.
Staley is the daughter of Tim and Debbie Staley. She is in the DCHS Band, French Club, Literature Club, FBLA, HOSA, and Beta Club.
Merriman is the daughter of Ronald and Denise Merriman. She is in the Literature Club, French Club, FBLA, Yearbook Staff, Science Club, and Beta Club.
Students among the top twenty senior academic ranking from numbers one to twenty are as follows:
Kesha Staley, Kelly Merriman, Brooke Pack, Jordan Howe, Anderson Webb, Megan Pack, Rebecca Lawrence, Victoria Bennett, Thomas West, Amanda Reed, Kara Young, Megan Merriman, Jessica Strickland, Krysta Ferrell, Shay Sullivan, Ryan Leiser, Avarie Maynard, Carrie Herrin, Amanda Price, and Tiffany Winchester.
Students earning “Highest Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.8 to 4.0 in alphabetical order are:
Rosemary Apple, Victoria Bennett, Nicole Burger, Allison Curtis, Justin Dunaway, Josh Emerton, Macy Felts, Krysta Ferrell, Caleb Gash, Carrie Herrin, Jordan Howe, Matthew Lawrence, Rebecca Lawrence, Ryan Leiser, Avarie Maynard, Kelly Merriman, Megan Merriman, Jeff Miller, Megan Osborne, Brooke Pack, Megan Pack, Amanda Price, Amanda Reed, Kesha Staley, Jessica Strickland, Shay Sullivan, Anderson Webb, Thomas West, Tiffany Winchester, and Kara Young.
Students earning “High Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.6 to 3.79 include Russell Ambrose, Adam Arnold, Corey Dodd, Cody Hawkins, Dustin Lattimore, Josh Lester, Anna Little, Malinda Mofield, Nathan Neal, Brandon Owen, Corey Poss, and Nikita Young..
Those earning “Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.2 to 3.59 include Preston Adcock, Emilee Anderson, Kirt Bandy, Carolyn Bass, Brian Bates, Chynna Cade, Courtney DeHoet, Kayla Hale, John Herriott, Shane Hickman, Turner Hobby, Amber Judkins, Lauren Kemp, Alisha Majors, Kimberly Majors, Whitney Moss, Justin Poteete, Jessica Richards, Francisco Rodriguez, Stephen Rogers, Logan Roller, Sonny Stults, Allyson Trapp, and Luke Willoughby.
The Class of 2009 at DeKalb County High School will graduate in May.